Environmental reports for coal trains in Queensland and Melbourne's planned East-West road link say that while there will be pollution increases, these rises will be "safe."
However, various studies have shown that there is no safe level of air pollution - health problems in the population rise in line with increases in pollution levels.
Experts argue describing these increases as "safe" is misleading and could cause an additional 6000 deaths a year, including 2600 in both Sydney and Melbourne and 800 in Brisbane.
Furthermore, it could lead to a further 20,700 people being hospitalised across those cities every year.
Moreover, experts argue the description of pollution levels when approving infrastructure projects across Australia are misleading, saying that any new project that increases air pollution will always mean an increase in illness - and even death in local populations.
Deaths from pollution in Australia are already a reality - an example is the death rates in the Victorian town of Morwell following the 45-day Hazelwood coal fire.
Figures showed a 15 per cent increase in the local death rate, which experts said translated to between 11 and 14 premature deaths.
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